India, July 17 -- The FIFA World Cup trophy is one of the most recognizable symbols in football, lifted by champions after the sport's biggest tournament every four years. But before the current golden prize became a global icon, its predecessor had a history involving two thefts, one unlikely recovery and a disappearance that remains a mystery.

As Spain and Argentina prepare to compete for the 2026 World Cup title, the winning captain will lift the current FIFA World Cup trophy, a design created by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga in 1971.

The trophy replaced the original Jules Rimet Trophy, which Brazil retained permanently after winning its third World Cup title in 1970.

Here's the story behind how football's most coveted prize got...